ARRL News

American Radio Relay League \| Ham Radio Association and Resources The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
The ARRL Solar Update Solar activity reached moderate levels early this week. The strongest event was an M1.4 flare observed on February 11 in Region 4366. This region also produced nine C-class flares. Region 4373 produced a C1.8/Sf flare on February 11. This region displayed some minor area growth. Regions 4369 and 4371 exhibited some minor decay. The other spotted regions remained unchanged. New Region 4375 was number...
Radio Clubs Encouraged to Plan Now for April Ham Radio Open House ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is inviting radio clubs to participate in the second annual Ham Radio Open House in April. Hosting an Open House gives clubs and schools the opportunity to promote amateur radio science and technology by opening their stations to the public and showcasing their hi-tech gear and operating skills. In addition, clubs are encouraged to set up in publi...
ARRL Mourns the Loss of Sharon Taratula, Awards Manager ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is saddened to share the news that Sharon Taratula, who served the League with dedication and distinction for 32 years, passed away on February 4, 2026. Sharon joined ARRL on January 31, 1994, as DXCC Awards Technician. She later served as Administrative Assistant (1996), MVP Administrative Manager (2011), and from 2016 until her passing, as Award...
The ARRL Solar Update Solar activity was at high levels for most of the week, dominated by Region 4366. The most notable event was an impulsive X4.2 flare from that region on February 4. Throughout the period, Region 4366 continued to exhibit a slight reduction in area and a modest simplification of its magnetic complexity. The remaining numbered regions on the visible disk remained stable or in a state of slight decay. T...
NCVEC Question Pool Committee Removes Three Questions from Use
ARRL Joins America250 as a Supporting Partner for the Nation’s 250th Anniversary
Former FCC official John B. Johnston, W3BE, Silent Key John B. Johnston, W3BE (SK), of Derwood, Maryland, passed away on January 7, 2026. He was 98 years old. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Johnson was a World War II veteran and served in the Pacific Theater. He was first licensed on March 15, 1954, as KN2HHR. Following military service and college, he worked for the General Electric Company, and then as an engineer for the Federal Communications Commis...
The ARRL Solar Update Solar activity continued at low levels this week. Low level C-class flares were observed from Regions 4342 and 4353. The majority of the regions were either stable or in decay. New Regions 4359, 4360, and 4361 emerged on the disk and were numbered. No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed. The forecast calls for solar activity to remain at low levels with a chance for M-class fla...
North Carolina Students Scheduled to Make Contact with the International Space Station 580 students at Conn Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, North Carolina, will participate in a conversation with an astronaut on board the International Space Station (ISS). Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has confirmed the contact, scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, just after 10:00 AM EST. Radio communications will be provided by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Socie...
ARRL to announce winner of Icom® Dream Station at HamCation®
ARRL Director Tharp, KB7HDX, Receives Search-and-Rescue Award Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, Director of the ARRL Northwestern Division, has received the Hall of Honor Award for 35 years of service to the Yakima Search and Rescue group. Tharp called the award “unexpected and very much appreciated,” adding, “You don’t do volunteer work to get awards, you do it because it’s needed and makes a difference.” Tharp was first licensed in 1989 and now holds an Extra Class...
Student Coding Competition is Underway with $25,000 Award ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is asking members to help encourage licensed youth in their communities to participate in the ARRL Student Coding Competition, an initiative focused on developing practical resources for the Amateur Radio Service. The competition, which began January 1, 2026, challenges young amateurs to create a mobile application that ARRL will use as a long-te...
Register Now for HamSCI 2026, Hosted by ARRL
Winter Storm Closes ARRL Headquarters on Monday, January 26 ARRL Headquarters and the Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026, due to heavy snowfall across the Northeast. Most membership services will continue uninterrupted, with staff working remotely. Members can access many benefits and services online at www.arrl.org. Members and prospective members may also join, renew, and place orders online or by phone at 860-594-...
The ARRL Solar Update Solar activity reached moderate levels with two M-class flares earlier this week. The first flares occurred on January 21 in regions 4345 and 4349. Region 4345 continued to show development, as well as region 4342. Region 4341 was a main contributor to the C-level activity of the day, including a larger C-class flare on January 21. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in the available coronagraph im...